Street Armor in the Dirt
Jay C
a really cool type of armor. It was a mesh long-sleeved shirt that had
plastic reinforced shoulder, elbow, forearm, and chest protection attached
plus it had a nifty kind of articulated turtle-shellish spine protector that
ran the entire length of the back. I think it also has a kidney belt built
in (not sure). No wonder these guys can go down at 170MPH and live to tell
about it. Seems to me like it would be the balls for dirt riding. Anyone
ever try one of these things? Cost was somewhere around $250. For all of
the pieces that it covered, and if it would allow decent movement OK, it
seems a bargain.
Jay C
JBD
Hey Jay, Hope things are going better with that shoulder.
In the Chapparal catalog there is a body armour type of thing that looks
just like what you are describing. Can't remember for sure but seems
like it was under $300 and might have even been under $200. The only
drawback I could see is the material that holds the thing together looks
like women's nylons, would stay nice and cool but looks like it could rip
fairly easily.....anyone know?
Jeff
(old hippie)
David E. Wilson
Jay C wrote:
> .....It was a mesh long-sleeved shirt that had
> plastic reinforced shoulder, elbow, forearm, and chest protection attached
> plus it had a nifty kind of articulated turtle-shellish spine protector that
> ran the entire length of the back. I think it also has a kidney belt
> built....
I looked at that stuff once, though I might use it for vintage MX, under a
shirt (you know for the vintage look). I keep looking around and bought the
all-in-one Jersey from EVS Sports. I think its lots better than that stuff you
found. They make other stuff like knee braces. As it turns out I now use the
EVS Balistic Shock Jersy for all riding. Why? I think its better protection
than a plastic protector and is lots more comfortable, and it has the best
lower back and kidney support I have ever seen. I also like that it goes under
you shirt because then it doesn't get hung up on trees and stuff when in the
mountains. Kind of the "Euro" look. I threw away my plastic body armor. For
me the EVS jersey is cooler, much more comfortible, and I believe it protects
better due to the absorbing quality of the padding. Don't be fooled by the
looks of the thing it really has a hard shell its just covered with material.
It also has the most comfortable elbow protection I have seen. Also, on real
hot days it can be worn alone, but I don't do that, I always use a shirt or on
cold days an enduro jacket over. Hey, you helmet has padding that compresses
and for good reason, why not use that kind of stuff for your body?
EVS Web Site http://www.vehicle.com/evs/newitems.html
Some intresting test of this kind of stuff
http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mcblip/prd-tpro.txt
Vintage Dave
DirtCrashr
which fit pretty tightly and help to hold it in place when you fall off and
slide down the pavement at 60mph.
I've heard of people using them offroad under a jersey instead of a roost.
One problem I've encountered is safety equipment that moves, like the sewn-in
hard shoulders and elbows in those "semi-street Enduro-type Paris Dakar
jackets", that move out of the way when you hit the dirt.
The other (hearsay) is it can get a bit hotter than a roost.
For my kind of "riding" I should probably use both, with an air-conditioned
helmet.
DirtCrashr - '97xr400
Marcus Erickson
a few years ago during the Trask ISDE Qualifier. I
noticed that Italian enduro ace Davide Trolli used a
Dainese road racing back protector with no other torso
armor. His was the mesh t-shirt type with a segmented
plastic spine. (Davide also was quite good at
installing tires by kicking and stomping them - no
tools! I don't know how he gets tires OFF because he
rode in on a bare rim.)
I use a Dainese kidney belt that features three of the
plastic spine segments and nicely covers my lower back
below my Zoom plus. I got real protective of my spine
after David Bailey got messed up.
MACE
*** Posted from RemarQ - http://www.remarq.com - Discussions Start Here (tm) ***
David Moen
enough times in one to attest to its impact absorption/dissapation
capabilities. Just saw thier padded shorts in a catalouge a few days after
I got some Fox ones dammit!
David Moen
'91 XR600
'84 GPz750
David E. Wilson wrote in message <36C31463...@ucar.edu>...
Marty Wicks
wrote:
>I was checking out the Dennis Kirk street catalog a month or so ago and saw
>a really cool type of armor. It was a mesh long-sleeved shirt that had
>plastic reinforced shoulder, elbow, forearm, and chest protection attached
>plus it had a nifty kind of articulated turtle-shellish spine protector that
>ran the entire length of the back. I think it also has a kidney belt built
>in (not sure). No wonder these guys can go down at 170MPH and live to tell
>about it. Seems to me like it would be the balls for dirt riding. Anyone
>ever try one of these things? Cost was somewhere around $250. For all of
>the pieces that it covered, and if it would allow decent movement OK, it
>seems a bargain.
Yep.. I've got it, my bro's got it and half a dozen mates have it too.
It's made by Dianese (well, they're one manufacturer). Except the
chest protector is only padded material, everything else is moulded
plastic with soft padding underneatht the plastic. It's all held
together with some freaky kinky fishnet. It does have a kidney belt.
I wear mine under my jersey (as do all that I ride with) and you
cannot tell that you're wearing it. Much more overall protection than
plastic armour, although I wouldn't MX in one without some plastic
over the chest (not that I that I think I'll ever MX). Thumbs up from
me and everyone else who wears it. Only cost AUS$300.
Cheers,
Marty
'97 KTM 400SC
Marty Wicks
>Hey Jay, Hope things are going better with that shoulder.
>In the Chapparal catalog there is a body armour type of thing that looks
>just like what you are describing. Can't remember for sure but seems
>like it was under $300 and might have even been under $200. The only
>drawback I could see is the material that holds the thing together looks
>like women's nylons, would stay nice and cool but looks like it could rip
>fairly easily.....anyone know?
Must admit it doesn't look like the hardiest thing you'd go off-road
with, but I've had mine for about 2 years and haven't ripped it yet.
I wear a fairly thick Thor 454 Jersey though.